The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal has dismissed a petition filed by Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna challenging his removal as secretary general of the ODM Party instead directing that the dispute be resolved through the party’s internal mechanisms.
The Gad Gathu led tribunal has said that Sifuna ought to have exhausted the party’s internal channels before filing the petition.
“The complainant and the first respondent shall attempt to resolve the dispute through the first respondent’s IDRM mechanisms. Parties are encouraged to submit to IDRM in good faith,” Gathu stated.
“The Tribunal therefore finds that it does not have powers to exempt a dispute from the requirement to attempt IDRM and thus cannot assume jurisdiction to hear and determine this dispute under the provisions of Section 40, Subsection 2 of the Political Parties Act,” he added.
The tribunal has further barred the ODM Party from formalizing Sifuna’s removal by making a filing at the registrar of political parties till the matter is heard and settled.
In his complaint, the Nairobi senator sought orders to stop the implementation of the decision removing him from the influential party position and to prevent the Registrar of Political Parties from effecting any changes.
Sifuna was removed from his post following his opposition of the party’s dalliance with President William Ruto.
